Harvest - Thoughts

In the last post, I discussed my strategy as I began my work here at Tenuta Mazzolino: smile (but not too much), work hard (but not too hard), etc. In making a recommendation to others in similar situations, I'd say the following: "just be yourself". At work, at home, with friends...everywhere. If you smile a lot, then smile. If you work overly hard, work your butt off. If you're lazy, well, you're out of luck, because I can't think of a job that embraces laziness, but you get my point. You see, what I described is my way and it's not the way for everyone. I do believe that workplace dynamics can be complicated, but if you stick to your guns, you will be respected, even if your colleagues disagree with you. So be YOU ("self-aware" as my old boss Scott Simon would put it). You won't always be right, but you will have your gut behind you.

Tonight we had a pizza, 3-year aged parmesean (incredible), salami and wine (plus some liquor made with sweet Moscato grapes and some booze a Romanian friend gave me in Barcelona). As the end of the night neared, Giovanni, an Albanian man in his 40s who speaks no English, asked how old I am (JF translates when we speak to each other). I responded that I am 27. He told me that he is surprised because I am very "intelligente". I was flattered, but understandably puzzled. How could he make such a judgment without understanding anything that I say? Then it hit me...Giovanni thinks that I am smart because I don't say anything at all.

But Giovanni and I do say a lot to each other. We speak with our hands, our energy and our eyes. And as I sat at that table, knowing that I won't be able to verbally speak with most of the people I will encounter over the next year, I realized that it really doesn't matter.

I am suddenly totally comfortable understanding none of the conversation. I don't need to. I understand the language of comaraderie, the language of loyalty and the language of respect, and that's all I'll be needing.